READOUT: Administrator Guzman Joins U.S. Senator Cornyn to Highlight Economic Impact of the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant and Other SBA Relief Programs on Houston-area Economy

WASHINGTON, DC- On July 29, Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman, head of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) and the voice for America's 33 million small businesses in President Biden's Cabinet, met with business owners and community leaders in Houston, Texas, witnessing pandemic economic recovery thanks to SBA and congressional economic aid programs offered under the Biden-Harris Administration.

While in Houston, the SBA Administrator joined U.S. Senator John Cornyn to visit the Heights Theater, which benefitted from the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant. The grant program was established by Sen. Cornyn's Save Our Stages Act. Since 2021, more than 700 grants have been awarded across the state, including 106 grants to Houston-area venues totaling $163 million.

"The economic consequences of the virus are still with us but what's been so encouraging is the leadership of Administrator Guzman, and the good people at the Small Business Administration," said Sen. John Cornyn. "We have heard a lot of wonderful stories about how this government program has actually helped save jobs and saved a part of our culture here in Texas that is unique and irreplaceable."

"Our nation's theaters, museums, and other cultural spaces were some of the hardest hit during the pandemic, and it was thanks to the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program that many were able to reopen and continue to serve their communities," said Administrator Guzman. "The program was a true bipartisan effort and success, and it was a pleasure to join Senator Cornyn in Houston to see firsthand the impact it had on businesses like the Heights Theater, the Houston Zoo, and so many more. Houston has long been a center of innovation and ingenuity, and I was also thrilled to be able to spend time during my trip learning about how Houston's small businesses are leading the way in developing new and inventive ways to tackle climate change and other current challenges. The SBA stands ready to support those businesses as they grow and develop with capital and other resources, helping entrepreneurs all over Texas and across the country to start, expand, and thrive."

Administrator Guzman also visited with members of the Asian American Pacific Islander (AAPI) community to discuss SBA lending programs. The roundtable took place at the Korean American Chamber of Commerce, led by President Casey Kang. The Administrator discussed ways in which the SBA can continue to support AAPI entrepreneurs, including raising awareness of SBA programs and funding opportunities.

The visit also included Harold's Restaurant Bar & Rooftop Terrace, a recipient of SBA pandemic-relief funding and to hear from TruFund a local Community Navigator Pilot Program (CNPP) on how the program is directly helping businesses start and grow. The conversation centered on the status of the restaurant industry in Houston as reported by the owner of Harold's Restaurant and her appreciation for the support that SBA was able to give during the pandemic. The conversation also included comments from TruFund about how CNPP is being developed and how it will impact businesses in the immediate future for Houston.

The Administrator also spoke with contractors about how the SBA can continue to support women in federal contracting opportunities. She heard firsthand from local women-owned small businesses about how SBA certifications have helped them achieve growth in their businesses through obtaining federal contracts from agencies such as NASA. This meeting followed a recent SBA announcement that the federal government exceeded its small business contracting goal, awarding 27.2%, or $154.2B, in federal contract dollars to small businesses.

The federal contracting roundtable included Kenzel Fallen, Co-Founder, Three Keys Coffee (RRF recipient + community advantage loan), Stephanie Johnson, Founder/CEO, Simmons-Johnson Consulting (PPP1, PPP2, COVID EIDL, SBA 8a and EDWOSB certified, THRIVE Emerging Leaders), Naomi Scales, Co-Founder, MarFran Cleaning (Covid EIDL, PPP1, 8a certified, Service-disabled veteran owned certified), Marilyn Jordan, Co-Founder, MarFran Cleaning, Cynthia Rando, CEO, Sophic Synergistics (HubZone, EDWOSB).

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About the U.S. Small Business Administration

The U.S. Small Business Administration helps power the American dream of business ownership. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start, grow or expand their businesses, or recover from a declared disaster. It delivers services through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov.

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